Organiser: RSPCA Solent Branch CIO (Registered Charity No. 1208430), operating as “The Stubbington Ark”.
The Opportunity: Enter our animal photography competition to be in with a chance to win over £300 worth of prizes and feature in our official 2027 charity calendar. All finalists will be invited to our Gallery Awards evening at the Stubbington Ark, where all short-listed photos will be professionally printed and displayed.
1. THE PROMOTER & PARTNERS
1- The promoter of the competition is RSPCA Solent Branch CIO, 174 – 176 Ranvilles Lane, Fareham, Hants, PO14 3EZ. Registered Charity Number: 1208430.
2- The Title Sponsor is London Camera Exchange (LCE) Portsmouth.
3- Category Sponsors include Photo Zone and Vintage Classic Camera.
2. ELIGIBILITY & ENTRY WINDOWS
4- The competition is open to amateur and professional photographers. Employees of RSPCA Solent Branch CIO, direct sponsors, and their families are fully eligible to enter and win.
5- The competition opens for paid registrations immediately. All elements of the entry must be completed before the closing deadline.
6- Key Dates & Deadlines:
- Entry, Payment & Image Submission Deadline: 1st September 2026. All entry fees must be processed and corresponding photographs fully uploaded via the Google Drive link by this date.
- Gallery Awards & Ceremony Evening: 11th September 2026 held at the Stubbington Ark Barn.
7- By submitting an entry, the entrant (or the entrant’s parent/legal guardian if under 16) agrees to be fully and unconditionally bound by these Terms and Conditions.
3. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & FEES
8- An entry fee of £5.00 applies per image entered. All proceeds directly support the animal welfare work of RSPCA Solent Branch CIO.
9- Entrants must purchase entry credits via the ecommerce portal (rspcasolent.onlineweb.shop). Following confirmation of payment, entrants will receive a link to an official form and Google Drive directory to complete their registration and upload their photographs.
10- A maximum of 5 photos may be entered per individual person. Each entry must be paid for to match the exact number of file submissions.
11- Mandatory Visual Content: All submitted photographs must include an animal. Images without a clear animal subject will be disqualified without refund.
4. CATEGORIES & PRIZE STRUCTURE
Photographs may be submitted into one of four distinct categories. Entrants must specify their chosen category upon submission:
Category Title | Criteria & Scope | Category Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
1. Youth (Under 16) | Open to entrants aged under 16 years on the date of submission. Requires parent/guardian consent. | Photo Zone |
2. Wildlife | Images focusing on wild, non-domesticated animals in their natural settings or local habitats. | Vintage Classic Camera |
3. Pets | Portraits or action shots celebrating domestic companions, including dogs, cats, small animals, and equines. | London Camera Exchange Portsmouth |
4. Comedy | Humorous, funny, or uniquely timed captures highlighting the comical side of the animal kingdom. | RSPCA Solent Branch CIO |
12- Prizes will be awarded to the top three (3) placing photographs within each of the four categories.
13- The top prize for each category will be provided by its respective Category Sponsor. Total competition prizes across all categories are valued at over £300.
5. TECHNICAL RESTRICTIONS & ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) POLICY
14- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ban: No AI-generated or AI-synthesised images are permitted. Any images found to be created, composited, or heavily edited using generative AI tools or software will be immediately disqualified.
15- Permitted Adjustments: Standard digital adjustments such as cropping, colour correction, exposure compensation, sharpening, and minor noise reduction are acceptable. Elements may not be added or removed from the core scene.
16 Format: Images must be submitted in high-resolution JPEG, JPG, or PNG format suitable for high-quality physical printing.
6. COPYRIGHT, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & IMAGE USAGE RIGHTS
17- Ownership: All photos submitted must be the original work and absolute property of the entrant. The entrant warrants that they own the sole copyright and possess all legal rights to publish, share, and use the photos.
18- Usage Licence Granted: By entering the competition, all entrants grant permission for their photos to be used by RSPCA Solent Branch CIO for publication purposes. This includes, but is not limited to: official social media platforms, the branch website, and physical print layout materials.
19- Third-Party Liability: The entrant agrees to fully indemnify RSPCA Solent Branch CIO against any and all claims or costs arising from third-party copyright or privacy infringements.
7. JUDGING & SELECTION
20 – A judging panel compiled by the charity will review all compliant entries based on technical skill, originality, and alignment with the category theme.
21- The Shortlist: The top selected photographs will be processed for physical printing. Title Sponsor London Camera Exchange Portsmouth will print 100 final selected entries for display at the exhibition venue.
8. GALLERY AWARDS EVENING & 2027 CALENDAR PUBLICATION
22- All selected finalists will receive an invitation to the formal Gallery Awards Evening on 11th September 2026, hosted inside the Barn gallery space at the Stubbington Ark.
23- The evening will feature an exhibition of the printed works alongside a formal prize-giving ceremony. Drinks (including beer and wine) and snacks will be available for purchase at the celebration evening; strict age verification checks will apply under UK licensing laws.
24- The 2027 Calendar: The top 3 placing photos from each of the 4 categories (12 photos in total) will be used for the official Stubbington Ark 2027 Calendar.
- Pre-orders for the calendar will open exclusively during the Gallery Awards evening.
- The calendar will subsequently be made available for sale via the online shop, local charity shops, and at the Christmas market. All profits directly benefit the charity’s animal welfare work.
9. GENERAL DISCLAIMERS & DATA PROTECTION
25- The Promoter reserves the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the competition or event details due to circumstances beyond its control.
26- Prizes are non-transferable, and no cash alternatives will be offered in place of sponsor-provided items or vouchers.
27- Data Protection: Personal data provided during entry will be held securely by RSPCA Solent Branch CIO in compliance with current UK GDPR and Data Protection laws. Data will be used solely for running this competition, coordinating the calendar, and announcing winners.
28- These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
